Essence

"Essence," the twentieth episode of the eighth season of The X-Files, directed by Kim Manners and written by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, serves as a pivotal installment in the series' mythology, particularly regarding the ongoing narrative surrounding Agent Dana Scully's pregnancy and the looming threat of alien colonization. This episode is notable for its intense atmosphere and character-driven storytelling, as it delves deeper into the implications of Scully's condition while introducing new layers to the overarching conspiracy involving the Syndicate and their dealings with extraterrestrial forces.

The plot unfolds as Scully (Gillian Anderson) prepares for her baby shower, an event that is overshadowed by the sinister machinations of Billy Miles (Zachary Ansley), who has been transformed into a "Supersoldier." Miles begins targeting scientists involved in genetic research, leading to a series of brutal murders that raise alarms for Mulder (David Duchovny) and John Doggett (Robert Patrick). As they investigate, they uncover a connection between Miles and Scully's unborn child, heightening the stakes as they race against time to protect her and her baby from a fate that could have dire consequences for humanity. The episode culminates in a tense confrontation that sets the stage for the season finale.

Visually, "Essence" maintains a dark and foreboding aesthetic that effectively complements its themes of danger and urgency. The cinematography captures the claustrophobic environment of Scully's apartment and the ominous presence of Miles, using shadows and dim lighting to create an atmosphere of suspense. The direction by Manners is tight, ensuring that the pacing remains brisk while allowing for moments of character reflection amidst the chaos. Notable scenes include the chilling moments when Miles confronts his victims, showcasing both horror and tension that keep viewers on edge.

The performances in "Essence" are particularly strong, with Anderson delivering a nuanced portrayal of Scully as she grapples with her impending motherhood while facing external threats. Duchovny's Mulder exhibits both determination and vulnerability as he navigates his protective instincts towards Scully. Patrick's Doggett adds depth to the narrative; his character's evolution is evident as he learns to work alongside Mulder while confronting his own fears about the supernatural elements at play. The guest cast, including Nicholas Lea reprising his role as Alex Krycek, adds complexity to the story as alliances shift in unexpected ways.

"Essence" explores issues of trust, sacrifice, and the nature of evil. The episode critiques how individuals can become pawns in larger conspiracies and how personal relationships can be strained by external pressures. It raises questions about what it means to protect loved ones in a world filled with deception and danger. Additionally, it highlights Scully's struggle for agency within her own narrative; she is portrayed not only as a victim but also as a powerful figure capable of confronting her fears.

Mulder's time with the x-files is drawing to a close. It all comes to a head as Scully nears her time to give birth. Mulder still has questions about her pregnancy, so he recruits Doggett to go along with him to look for the answers.

In the teaser, we get the titles for the two-parter episodes from Mulder's voice-over, "Essence transforming into Existence". I never noticed that before.

When Mulder arrives at Doggett's house, Doggett is watching NASCAR. I never pegged him for a NASCAR fan. What drives Doggett to go along with Mulder in this episode? He knows that Mulder is trouble with a capital 'T'. Yet he breaks into a private establishment with Mulder and helps him to harass a doctor. With how skeptical he is, I find it very interesting that Doggett continues to go along with Mulder. He must suspect that Mulder is right to a degree. Or maybe it's because Kersh is such a jerk to everyone, that Doggett feels like ticking him off too.

What woman would agree to a medical procedure on a Saturday in an empty office alone with her doctor? Nowadays, I can't imagine any woman doing that.

Billy Miles is now an unstoppable, Terminator-like killing machine. He even gets cheesy Terminator lines to say.

It surprises me that Skinner would order Krycek to stay at the FBI. Why would he allow someone like Krycek to be all alone in FBI headquarters? It doesn't seem like a smart or safe move.

Essence is very exciting with some good action sequences. What brings it down is the new Super Soldier element. It is so confusing. Now Agent Crane is a Super Soldier? When did that happen? If Billy Miles is supposedly trying to kill Scully, why does Agent Crane help them to escape? Aren't these Super Soldiers on the same page? The questions remain unanswered, and so the quality of the episode is diminished. Essence is still a very fun episode to watch and leads us to an equally exciting season finale.

Scully's pregnancy is fast approaching, and it soon transpires that different groups, with different agendas, want the child. Mulder vows to keep Scully safe.

This penultimate episode of Series 8 plays out as a stylish, energetic thriller, and as anyone who's watched anything from this series would have expected, the subject is Scully's unborn child.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, pretty much played out as I expected it to, series ending stories tend to play to a narrative, and the raft of familiar faces appear. Definitely more than a few T2 vibes throughout, particularly at the end.

Lots of interesting new questions arose from this one, what exactly is Billy Miles, where do Krycek's loyalties really lay, and is smoking Man going to put in an appearance?

I was really expecting series 8 to be something of a disappointing, for my money it's been way better than series 7. This is yet another great episode.

Hard to fault once again, 9/10.